Poetry

Poem: Nourished

Staring out into the ocean, with no land in sight. The world seems so unimportant because here and now, it’s just me and the Most High. I raise my hands in supplication, in search of some direction, in life and in sight, as I seek out clarity in the purest of ambitions. The wind and water hit my face, like pellets of reminders, that the air and water I depend on can hurt me just as much as they nourish me. Yet still, I hold on to them. I can’t let them go, because as much as they may hurt and as much as they may nourish, I need them to understand my relationship with my Lord. His Love is pure, and yet it comes with both pain and pleasure – for lessons and satisfaction. So, how can we expect our love for each other, as humans, which is naturally imperfect, to be flawless and without struggle and difficulty?

Commentary

All that we face in our lives are opportunities to live – truly live. What value is there in a life without risks, without failures, without pain?  A life like that isn’t living. It is merely an existence. When you look back at your life, you may see that you faced immense amounts of pain at times, which then seemed as though they would be the end of you. But those visions would be faded by the brightness of all the good that came because of or after those painful times.

When you wake every morning, take a deep breath, have a glass of water, and breathe. These are the two basic elements you need in life, and every morning, you are blessed with them, while so many others around the world aren’t. When you go through a struggle, smile because what you are facing isn’t something that hasn’t been faced by someone in the past – they overcame it, and so can you. What you face today is a stepping stone towards greatness, but that is only the case if you recognize that you are capable of greatness. Once you are confident in that, nothing that challenges you becomes overbearing. Instead, it is something you know you must go through to reach that greatness.

Standing on the ferry during my trip yesterday, I felt great gusts of wind pushing me back into the body of the ship. The water struck my body like pins, such that when I finally went back inside, I felt disoriented. Still, I cherished those few simple moments, because I relished in the recognition that I am pleased with the pain I have felt in my life and am grateful for the nourishment Allah has given my soul, even if it was acquired through some difficulty. I raised my hands, and prayed two Rakahs (segments) of prayer as the wind and water continued to push me, and the sounds of the wind silenced my mind to give it the clarity it needed to focus on my connection with Allah. My life was changed. Alhamdulillah. Truly, Alhamdulillah.

I don’t read often.
I fear that I may fall into a world so enticing
that I may begin to neglect the world I live in,
or that I may cease gratitude for all that I have been given.

I don’t read often.
My life has a variety of stories of its own
that I feel I was made more to be the mouth that dictates,
than the eyes that capture a new world.

I don’t read often.
Instead I try to connect my heart to other hearts
and inspire my mind through touching other minds,
all through building a bridge of linguistics.

I don’t read often.
I feel bad seeing the smudged remains of a no.2,
as I’m sure it already feels insecure about being most common,
yet still, just number two.

I don’t read often.
I believe it to be an injustice to reality
as a photograph is to the sight of an eye.
Yet still, I try.

I don’t read often.
I worry that I may find love in it,
or that I’d lose the impact of surprise.
Knowing less makes life more worthy of experience.

I don’t read often.
If, however, there is a book I would like to read,
it would be the one that He wrote,
before lifting the pen and letting the ink dry.

But isn’t that just living?

“If you’re real,
please show me now.
If we are meant to be,
you’ll appear somehow.”

These are the words I once said,
before you became more than a dream,
my future intertwined with my present.
I searched my entire life,
looked around,
considered more than a few,
but none stood as sincerely,
and as truly as you do.

Some came close,
some not at all.
But all were like a blemish
in a dream of love so pure and raw.
I don’t know if I’ve found you,
or the other way around,
or if this is just a timely event,
Divinely presented by the One above all.

Regardless, I see you,
as bliss, peace,
and a chance at happiness.
You are now here,
And today, it’s all clear,
that my life and all I’ve seen,
was in preparation of loving you.

Still, I sigh
and say Alhamdulillah.
For after all I’ve been through,
after all I’ve seen,
I have grown every day
to become a better me.

My life is
in no way too difficult.
This type of suffering
was meant just for me.
My mistakes were mine,
my lessons deserved,
and for every moment,
I feel blessed for what I’ve earned.

I have lived,
I have loved,
if not through others,
then at least
through the One above.
Alhamdulillah.

All that has passed has been
a fingerprint to the clay,
a unique indentation
moulding me into who I am today.
This morrow will follow,
in the ways it has been written.
Dried is the ink,
lifted is the pen,
and where I am focused
is on this day and how it’s spent.
Only through this will I find peace with the unknown,
because the future is only clear to the One, Most Known.

And still I sigh,
and say Alhamdulillah.
For what’s to come is uncertain,
my dreams are still to be seen,
but what I know for certain,
is that He will take care of me.

How beautiful is the movement of her lips,
as she speaks the words of God,
reminding her soul,
and reminding my heart,
that she is truly in love with pleasing Him.

The world rests as she wakes.
The birds have yet to begin,
but she has already begun.
Her prayer is greater than any melody,
because she recites words greater than any poetry.
She seeks to call out to Him,
asking for facilitation of her affairs,
as she is distraught with what to do,
but knows that her first step is to turn to Him.

How inspiring is her commitment,
as she bows in humility,
recognizing that He is her Greatest Supporter.
She is in a place that is not truly known to anyone but her
…and Him.
A place wherein she is the sole recipient of His Blessings.
A place where she has to answer to no one but Him.
She is finally free.

Her heart sinks as she sees the corruption.
The world around her crumbles as every person,
every soul, every body, every mind,
is falling to desires of worldly concern,
neglecting that which is most pleasing to Him.
She wonders, combatting her confusion
from seeing her guides themselves become victims to the world,
as to how she can overcome and continue to live.
Not exist. Live.
Because she feels that if she doesn’t make changes,
all that will remain will be forgotten visions,
with creation existing without purpose.
Like a flower with no fragrance,
lives would be lived having lost their essence.

I have not yet met her.
I have merely seen her in the distance,
catching a glimpse or two.
She is that essence.
That shimmer of hope,
when all that is seen is darkness.
I do not know if I am yet worthy of her light,
but I know that I will try,
try to truly live to the fullest,
and become my best,
so that I may be worthy of her companionship.